During one of Go-Daigo's outings to Shimogamo-jinja, 5 bubbles appeared in the water as he purified his hands.

Interpreted as the human body (五体-head, arms and legs), it was taken as a fortuitous sign.

The emperor offered 5 rice dumplings (4 big and 1 small) to the shrine gods.
#MitarashiMatsuri

Lighting a votive candle at Shimogamo-jinja's Mitarashi Festival.

#Kyoto #Japan #MitarashiMatsuri #みたらし祭り #Shimogamojinja #下鴨神社 #summerfestival

Lanterns erected at Kitano Tenmangu for the Tanabata celebrations.

Mitarashi Pond at Kitano Tenmangu.

At Kitano Tenmangu you choose the colour of the candle to offer at the Mitarashi Pond. Each colour represents different prayer requests (health, success, travel safety etc...).

A bridge passes over the small Mitarashi Pond at Kitano Tenmangu.

Mitarashi festivals (御手洗祭), when the faithful wade through purifying waters, were once popular throughout Japan, but only three now remain in Kyōto.

The most famous is held at Shimogamo-jinja, the other two at Konoshima-jinja (the 'Silkworm Shrine') and Kitano Tenmangū.

#Kyoto #MitarashiMatsuri

my new summer robe
splashed by hot
purification water
更衣ふりかけらるる湯花哉
-Kobayashi Issa (小林一茶), 1795.
Trans. David G. Lanoue.

#Kyoto #Japan #MitarashiMatsuri #みたらし祭り #Shimogamojinja #下鴨神社 #summerfestival

Inoue-sha watches over Mitarashi Pond.

Drinking the spring water at Inoue-sha is believed to protect against sickness.

Lighting a votive candle during the Mitarashi Matsuri.

Shimogamo-jinja's Taiko-bashi (bridge).

The pond belongs to Inoue-sha (井上社 'Shrine over the Well'), enshrining the god of purification 'Seoritsu-hime' (瀬織津姫命).

After wading, people partake of the spring water as it is believed to guard against sickness🥤🙏

The festival first began in the Edo period.

#御手洗祭 #MitarashiMatsuri